Richard P Smith in Focus
Richard has been involved in an array of ground-breaking projects both in Australia and across the globe. Spanning realms as diverse as car care centres and Bikram yoga studios to pioneering the use of needle and syringe programs in Victoria and setting up drug and alcohol rehabs, his eye for opportunity and improvement is relentless. Now in his 60’s, his entrepreneurial and philanthropic zeal shows no sign of abating and 2019 saw the launch of a bamboo village building project in Bali.
Career Highlights
Such a varied career carries with it an almost endless list of highlights. So in brief here are the top 11:
Richard Philip Smith was born in the UK and travelled to Australia with his parents in 1956 aboard the MV Georgia which had been a troop carrier during WW2. Still kitted out with bunks for the troops and segregated areas for the men and women, an atmosphere of post-war austerity prevailed. At this time it cost ‘ten quid’ for an adult to migrate to the brave new world and the kids were tagged on for free.
The Smith family landed in Adelaide where Richard’s father immediately found work but his mother struggled to settle into her new life. She had family in Melbourne and they eventually moved to salve her homesickness, living in the Nunawading Hostel for three years before getting a commission House in West Heidelberg.
Richard said “If you grew up in West Heidelberg you either became a social worker, a cop or a thief.”
A Pioneering Spirit
True to form, Richard, shirked convention and became none of these things, choosing a career in motor mechanics and attending the local technical college. He was offered a scholarship to become a teacher and he studied for a year before deciding he wanted to make cash and have fun, not study.
He manage the Northland Car Care Centre in Preston where within a few short years he progressed became the owner/manager. From there he established successful car care centres in Macleod and Heidelberg which became a franchise and was sold on to become UltraTune.
The Smith family landed in Adelaide where Richard’s father immediately found work but his mother struggled to settle into her new life. She had family in Melbourne and they eventually moved to salve her homesickness, living in the Nunawading Hostel for three years before getting a commission House in West Heidelberg.
Richard said “If you grew up in West Heidelberg you either became a social worker, a cop or a thief.”
Plans for the Future
Richard Smith is currently involved in building a bamboo eco-village in the north west of Bali after a long love affair with this area of the island. A few years ago he took over a rundown, failing restaurant in Lovina on the beach and renovated it, turning it into a boutique resort with affordable yet comfortable rooms staying true to the old Bali style. The success of this has kicked off an interest in property development.
The Hader Clinic, Richard’s business in Melbourne continues to go from strength to strength and has just been granted a Private Psychiatric Hospital licence and is accredited to NSQHS standards. He also continues to work Pro Bono with the Indonesian government and is the President of the ICARO which aims to increase the quality of drug rehabilitation in Asia.
CHARITY
Richard’s personal experience with addiction combined with his professional skills has helped countless substance users and their families deal with the destructive forces of addiction. It has also given him the drive to seek to help, educate and improve the world around him. Part of the whole ethos of recovery is to give something back to the world and be of service; Richard takes this idea very seriously hence the development of this website offering free educations and resources to help individuals and families that have issues with addictions.
Charity work for Indonesian drug addicts
Seasons Bali & Yayasan Musim Indonesia (YMI) drug and alcohol rehabs with qualified Indonesian staff are employed to provide affordable or no cost treatment to Indonesians with BNN and BNK. The aim of YMI is to help the local drug-addicted population through an outpatient and residential treatment program.
Additionally, in Jakarta, Seasons Bali sponsors an annual camp for all the drug workers to share knowledge so they can better help their communities. Another project funded by the team is Yayasan Lingkaran Peduli which runs drug education programs in schools in Java. Likewise, the team provides pro bono work for the Mental Health Council of Indonesia.
International Consortium of Addiction-Related Organisations
ICARO is another project Seasons Bali has a hand in and it was formed with the idea that all addiction-related organisations have a role to play in helping each other grow. The 12 founding members include representatives from well-known rehabs and addiction-related organisations including The Dawn in Thailand, Astute in Malaysia, the Oneness Group in Japan and the Seasons Hader Group. This group meets to discuss the development of the addiction treatment industry and to promote education and ethics. Richard is the President and both sponsors and hosts events.
Charity work in Bali
I Ketut Bobi Nadiasa is an integral part of Richard’s story in Bali and is his business partner and General Manager. Bobi is the logistics man who finds how all the pieces of the dream can be ordered and achieved. In addition to the drug-related charity work they also run a charity organisation called Yayasan Gunung Pahlengkong. This focuses on conservation, recycling plastics and educating children in English and computing in the North West region of Bali where Bobi is from.
Moreover, this Yayasan also teaches the art of Balinese Dance, music and wood carving ensuring the islands extraordinary culture is kept alive and strong. In the village, they also build sanitation for some of the poorest families making sure that their quality of life is improved all-round.
Charity work in Australia
Richard’s personal Philosophy in life is one of giving back to his community and friends, which is shown in a practical manner where he provides 10% of the bed capacity in his rehabs for charity. Another words, 10% of his clients access his organisation services for free, commonly known as “charity beds”. Along with this, he gives his time pro-bono to government organisations and NGO’s
As well as these good works he is a lifetime trustee and management committee member of the Solid Rock Foundation, a charitable organisation working with disadvantaged and marginalised youth.
